1. Youth councils in Germany Presentation for the european youth council seminar – Tampere / Tammerfors 23.08.11 By Andreas Bender (Chair), Sebastian Müller (Head working group Finland)

2. Berlin Baden- Württemberg

3. Youth policy in Germany Federal Voting age for federal elections, age when you become an adult for business, courts, legal drinking age, Conscription / national service / long term volunteer work Unemployment / social security laws HARTZ IV / ALG 2 (special focus on people under 25) Youth represented by the the federal youth ring (Deutscher Bundesjugendring) State Schools (laws + teachers + curriculum) youth law (since constitutional reform) SGB § 12 voting rights for local + state elections + legal framework for youth councils Youth represented by the state youth ring (Landesjugendring) Local Level run or let run kindergartens, youth centres, sports facilities, schools, most places young people need give money to schools for non teacher things (books, secretary, building), zoning, play ground, sports grounds, local transportation, youth councils Youth represented by City youth ring and youth council

4. Participation possibilities Political: youth wings of political parties (e.g. young social democrats) Pre-political sphere: “Youth-rings” as associations of civil society groups who have a youth wing (e.g. youth red cross, scouts, fire-fighter youth …) School: school students council, influence + possibilties depending on school structure Youth center – depending on the center

5. Youth councils in Germany We presume that there are youth councils in all states, most in Baden-Württemberg No Germany wide umbrella organisation of youth councils Umbrella Organisation in Baden-Württemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz, Brandenburg, NRW (?) Baden-Württemberg around 100 youth councils

6. The umbrella organisation Founded in ca. 1995 A registered association since this year: e.V. Board + members + working groups Organises exchanges with other countries Meets twice each year represents youth councils at the state level Promotes state wide projects of youth councils No staff, but working relationship with municipal governments + state agency for political education

7. Benefits for members Spotlights (club magazine) E-mail Newsletter Homepage Assistance in establishing a youth council Helping youth councils with problems Meetings of the umbrella organisation Seminars

8. What do youth councils do? Formally: speak in the city council Make formal proposals for the city council Raise awareness / public relations work Educate youth about politics and politicians about youth Generate people to be interested in local affairs …

9. What do they discuss? Youth centres Public transport including night busses About themselves Schools / Education Skate, skateparks, Violence Graffiti Sports Social affairs According to Müller 2011, page 74

10. A short history of youth councils in Germany (as far as we know) 1985 Weingarten (Württemberg) 1996 6 youth councils in BW (first research done on youth councils) 2003 §41a Municipal council act (Baden-Württemberg) “municipalities may establish a youth council” 2010 German-Finish status report on youth participation

11. Further information Dachverband der Jugendgemeinderäte Baden- Württemberg e.V. www.jugendgemeinderat.de sprecher@jugendgemeinderat.de Landeszentrale für politische Bildung (state agency for polictical education) Angelika Barth /+49 (0)711/164099-22 Angelika.Barth@lpb.bwl.de Angelika.Barth@lpb.bwl.de Sebastian Müllers Blog http://sbamueller.wordpress.com/forschung/